So sang the friendly residents of the West Village in the hit 1953 Broadway musical where Rosalind Russell repeated her role of Ruth Sherwood, the Ohio born writer who moved with her sister Eileen to Manhattan and found a world of laughter, a world of tears, a world of love, and especially a world of fears. Oh, let me not forget about the Conga, a dance she is forced to perform with the Brazilian naval academy.
First seen as a play on Broadway with Shirley Booth as Ruth, "My Sister Eileen" made it to the screen in 1941 starring the Oscar Nominated Russell and Janet Blair. A decade later, the play was musicalized and the movie was remade with a different score. As great as Betty Garrett and Janet Leigh are in that film, the Jule Styne score just does not compare with Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green's rousing melodies.
For Russell, getting to play Ruth the third time around was the charm, because by 1958, practically every household in America had a television set. While most of the cast was replaced for this black and white T.V. version and the running time edited, the choice morsels have remained. For those who have seen stage productions of this, they won't be disappointed. Russell, coming off the success of "Auntie Mame", had a great year. One of the odd things which has always bothered me about the role of Rur, however, is that she is considered to be Eileen's poor plain sister, yet practically every actress who has played her is more than just slightly attractive. Consider Elaine Stritch, Eve Arden, Nanette Fabray, Cloris Leachman, Lucie Arnaz, Donna Murphy and Brooke Shields. Such "non-beauties" as Nancy Walker and Kay Ballard also played the part, but their comedic talents made them appear beautiful on stage. Russell is a career oriented lady whose beauty comes from within as well as outside which makes her glow all the more.
The wonderful characteristic about Eileen is that she is a precious blonde cutie who doesn't thrive on her cuteness and make her obnoxious. Most of Broadway's current crop of blonde divas would overplay the part and make the character a bit too cheery while the way it should be played is with a knowing coyness. Jacquelyn McKeever plays the part exactly that way and it totally works.
Six years before playing Nicki Arnstein opposite Barbra Streisand, Sydney Chaplin took on the role of Bob, the magazine publisher who takes a shine to Roz. She is afraid of big city romance, however, and shares this with the audience in "100 Easy Ways", one of the funniest leading lady songs on Broadway. When she duets the comical "Ohio" with McGeever, it is a tribute to every small town scaredy cat who dared to take a step into any huge metropolis, let alone scary New York City.
Of course, the opening number is Christopher Street, an ironic choice for a setting considering its historical significance a decade later. "Here we live, here we love. This is the place for self expression", such magnificent foresight for the future. Repeating their roles from Broadway are Cris Alexander as one of Eileen's beaus and Dort Clark as a cynical reporter after Eileen himself. So the next time you are feeling tired of being "Babbity, Provincial", grab yourself a plane ticket (or train or bus) and get to Broadway ASAP.
First seen as a play on Broadway with Shirley Booth as Ruth, "My Sister Eileen" made it to the screen in 1941 starring the Oscar Nominated Russell and Janet Blair. A decade later, the play was musicalized and the movie was remade with a different score. As great as Betty Garrett and Janet Leigh are in that film, the Jule Styne score just does not compare with Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green's rousing melodies.
For Russell, getting to play Ruth the third time around was the charm, because by 1958, practically every household in America had a television set. While most of the cast was replaced for this black and white T.V. version and the running time edited, the choice morsels have remained. For those who have seen stage productions of this, they won't be disappointed. Russell, coming off the success of "Auntie Mame", had a great year. One of the odd things which has always bothered me about the role of Rur, however, is that she is considered to be Eileen's poor plain sister, yet practically every actress who has played her is more than just slightly attractive. Consider Elaine Stritch, Eve Arden, Nanette Fabray, Cloris Leachman, Lucie Arnaz, Donna Murphy and Brooke Shields. Such "non-beauties" as Nancy Walker and Kay Ballard also played the part, but their comedic talents made them appear beautiful on stage. Russell is a career oriented lady whose beauty comes from within as well as outside which makes her glow all the more.
The wonderful characteristic about Eileen is that she is a precious blonde cutie who doesn't thrive on her cuteness and make her obnoxious. Most of Broadway's current crop of blonde divas would overplay the part and make the character a bit too cheery while the way it should be played is with a knowing coyness. Jacquelyn McKeever plays the part exactly that way and it totally works.
Six years before playing Nicki Arnstein opposite Barbra Streisand, Sydney Chaplin took on the role of Bob, the magazine publisher who takes a shine to Roz. She is afraid of big city romance, however, and shares this with the audience in "100 Easy Ways", one of the funniest leading lady songs on Broadway. When she duets the comical "Ohio" with McGeever, it is a tribute to every small town scaredy cat who dared to take a step into any huge metropolis, let alone scary New York City.
Of course, the opening number is Christopher Street, an ironic choice for a setting considering its historical significance a decade later. "Here we live, here we love. This is the place for self expression", such magnificent foresight for the future. Repeating their roles from Broadway are Cris Alexander as one of Eileen's beaus and Dort Clark as a cynical reporter after Eileen himself. So the next time you are feeling tired of being "Babbity, Provincial", grab yourself a plane ticket (or train or bus) and get to Broadway ASAP.